Two shot pistol

ABSTRACT

A small, lightweight multi-shot pistol, preferably includes a readily field removable receiver having two barrels in an over/under configuration. The butt of the pistol includes a storage chamber holding two spare cartridges. The single trigger is a double action trigger. The configuration of the pistol is such that two shots may be rapidly fired in a “double tap” manner, and the receiver can then be released using a thumb latch, whereby the receiver will be tilted upward and an auto-ejector will eject the spent cartridges. The spare cartridges are held together using a speed loader device which holds them so that they are properly aligned for speedy insertion into the breach of the tilted receiver.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of provisional application Ser. No. 61/426,458 entitled Two Shot Pistol, filed Dec. 22, 2010, the priority of which is hereby claimed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a very small, lightweight pistol which is able to shoot two bullets without reloading. In particular, the present invention relates to a pistol which is generally intended for use as a “back-up” or concealed carry weapon which is small and light weight, but which is designed and constructed so as to provide a two shot capability, with successive shots made by successive trigger pulls. Alternatively, both shots may be made with a single trigger pull.

Small, light weight pistols, such as those made by Derringer, have been available for many years. While such pistols included double barrel pistols, they were not designed to provide a two shot capability (a so-called “double tap” shooting technique capability) without taking action other than by making successive trigger pulls. Thus, such pistols typically required some additional action by the shooter, such as the flipping of a lever, manually cocking the hammer, or the use of two triggers, in order to provide two shot capability. Even then, once the pistols of the prior art had been discharged they were not designed to be reloaded quickly, easily, or conveniently.

The prior art also included such single shot, small, light weight pistols as the “Liberator” which was quite inexpensive to manufacture and which included space within its butt where additional rounds of ammunition could be stored. Once again, however, the design of the Liberator pistol did not permit reloading to be quick, easy, or convenient. Further, the design of the Liberator pistol was such that it included numerous parts which were not “smoothly” integrated whereby that pistol could be quickly and reliably extricated from a pocket or other concealed location without a likelihood of some portion of the pistol (e.g., a hammer) catching on the user's clothing, etc., which feature is especially important in a tactical situation.

Accordingly, there has been an ongoing need in the law enforcement and military fields for a well made, light weight, readily concealed backup or tactical weapon which could provide the user with a two shot capability, as well as being easily concealed without fear that the design would catch on the inside of a user's pocket, or other article of clothing, or other concealed location when the user needed to quickly extract the weapon in an emergent situation.

There have also been ongoing needs for a pistol which could be discharged twice in rapid succession and then quickly and reliably reloaded with available cartridges, as well as for a pistol in which the barrel assembly can be quickly and easily changed without tools, and where different barrel assemblies can be adapted for use with different caliber cartridges.

Another unmet need of the prior art has been for a pistol which could have interchangeable barrels, whereby the same pistol could be used with multiple calibers of ammunition, as desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a pistol which is small, lightweight, and easily concealed. The present invention includes a single trigger which is used in a double action mode, whereby successive pulls of the trigger will result in the discharge of the two cartridges contained in the double barrel over/under configuration used in the receiver of the preferred embodiment of the invention. In many respects the present invention is similar to an over/under double barrel shotgun in that its receiver preferably has an over/under, or superposed, configuration. Further, the pistol of the present invention includes a spring-loaded cartridge ejector mechanism along with a spring loaded “thumb latch” which can be moved forward from either side of the pistol from a first “locked” position to a second “unlocked” position, whereby the receiver is released from a first “locked and loaded” position and tilted forward by a barrel tip-up spring surrounding a retainer/pivot. When the receiver is tilted forward the spent cartridges will be ejected by a spring loaded ejector mechanism, so that the breach is emptied of the spent cartridges whereby they can be quickly replaced with spare cartridges.

In accordance with the invention, the butt of the pistol preferably includes a cartridge trap adapted to hold two spare cartridges which are held together by a cartridge retention device called a “Heizer loading device” which has been designed to hold the spare cartridges in the correct juxtaposition so as to enable the user to quickly, and simultaneously, place them into the breach of the receiver. In accordance with the invention, the cartridge trap has a “trap door” at the bottom of the grip. The trap door is held closed by a detent in normal use, but it can be readily flipped open to allow the spare cartridges, which are connected together in the foregoing “Heizer loading device”, to be dropped into the waiting hand of the user, who can then quickly, easily, and reliably reload the pistol by sliding the spare cartridges into the waiting breach and then removing the “Heizer loading device” into which the rear of the spare cartridges has been placed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the pistol of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view (e.g., a muzzle view) of the preferred embodiment of the pistol of the preferred embodiment of the present invention looking into the barrels;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pistol of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the barrel assembly of the pistol of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view cutaway view of the pistol of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side view cutaway view of the pistol of the preferred embodiment of the present invention with the barrel assembly in the raised position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with the present invention a small, lightweight, two shot pistol 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and 5-6. With specific reference to FIGS. 1, 5, and 6, the pistol 10 includes a removable barrel assembly or receiver 12 which can be pivoted about an axis defined by a retaining member 14 which is a pin held in place by a detent (not shown). The retaining member 14 extends through an opening 16 in the barrel assembly 12 (See, FIG. 4). It can be pushed from one side, to release it from the detent, whereby the barrel assembly 12 can be removed and replaced. A feature of the present invention is that interchangeable barrel assemblies can be used for different caliber cartridges.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pistol 10 includes a single trigger 18, which is preferably a double action trigger. The receiver 12 (shown in FIGS. 1-6) includes a pair of barrels which preferably have an over/under configuration, including an upper barrel 20 and a lower barrel 22, as best illustrated in FIG. 2. The breach 24 of the pistol 10 preferably includes a spring loaded auto-ejector 26 for receiving two cartridges 28, 30 which can be inserted therein when the receiver 12 is in its “tilted forward/open” position, as shown in FIG. 6.

The pistol 10 further includes a butt, or pistol grip 32 which is designed to receive a pair of spare cartridges 34, 36. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the pistol grip 32 is a machined integral grip, as it is machine processed to provide a pattern or design which emulates a texture, which may include designs or logos, as shown in FIG. 1, while being integral with the frame of the pistol 10 to minimize the thickness of the pistol 10. As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 5-6, a trap door 38 is formed at the bottom of the grip 32. The trap door 38 pivots down from its normally closed position (shown) in order to allow the user to extract the spare cartridges 34, 36 from a cartridge trap 40 formed within the grip 32. As illustrated in FIGS. 5-6 the spare cartridges 34, 36 are press fit into a cartridge loading device 42 (the “Heizer loading device”) which holds the cartridges 34, 36 in proper juxtaposition whereby they can be pressed directly into the breach 24 when the barrel assembly is tilted up as in FIG. 6. With continued reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 the cartridge loading device 42 includes a tab 44 which is bent over, as shown, when the cartridge loading device 42 is within the cartridge trap 40.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention a lanyard mount 46 is preferably included on the rear portion of the grip 32, whereby the pistol 10 may be retained by a lanyard or chain, as desired by the user.

Various features of the pistol 10 of the preferred embodiment of the invention are included in order to minimize any likelihood of catching or snagging as the user withdraws the pistol 10 from his pocket or other clothing. Thus, with continued reference to FIGS. 1-6, the pistol 10 includes an integrated, low profile sight 48, which may be comprised of a tritium sight. Another feature which prevents the pistol 10 from catching on a user's clothing is that it uses an internal hammer 62, which will be further described hereinafter, and which is fully enclosed within the frame of the pistol 10.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, ambidextrous thumb latches 50 (See, FIGS. 1, 5, and 6) are included on each side of the pistol 10. While only the latch 50 on the left side of the pistol 10 is actually shown, the latch on the right side of the pistol 10 is identical. The design of the thumb latches 50, along with their associated mechanisms, is such that if either of them is pushed forward (toward the muzzle of the pistol 10) it will cause a receiver disconnect push pin 52 to push a receiver lockup pin 54 forward against the force of a latch retainer spring 56, thereby causing the lockup pin 54 to disengage from a barrel latch 58 formed on the underside of the barrel assembly 12 (See, FIG. 6). When the receiver lockup pin 54 is disengaged from the barrel latch 58 a barrel tip up spring 60 causes the barrel assembly 12 to rapidly tip up, as shown in FIG. 6.

When the rear of the barrel assembly 12 tips up, the spring-loaded ejector 26 forces the cartridges 28, 30 out of the breach 24 as soon as the breach 24 clears the frame. The user can then open the trap door 38 (which is held closed by a detent) and remove the cartridge loading device 42, which retains the spare cartridges 34, 36, from the cartridge trap 40 within the grip 32. While holding the tab 44, the user can quickly reload the pistol 10, tear the cartridge loading device 42 from the newly loaded cartridges 34, 36, and snap the barrel assembly 12 into its down, locked, and ready position.

As set forth above, another feature of the pistol 10 of the preferred invention is that it is designed to have an internal hammer 62 along with a smoothly joined exterior configuration whereby the likelihood of something on the pistol 10 “catching” when the pistol 10 is removed from a concealed location, e.g., from a user's pocket, is greatly reduced. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the operation of the trigger 18 and associated mechanism is that when the trigger 18 is “pulled” against the force of the trigger spring 64, a trigger linkage 66 moves a sear 68 rearward along a sear guide 70 on which the sear 68 rides. The upper portion of the sear 68 presents a cam surface 72 to the pivoting hammer mechanism 62, whereby a roller bearing 74 rides up the cam surface 72, pivoting the hammer 62 rearward around a roller bearing 76 against the force of a hammer spring 78. When the sear 68 reaches a disconnect 80, the disconnect 80 is pushed rearward against the force of a disconnect spring 82 until it reaches a point where the disconnect 80 is pushed free of a disconnect block 84, at which point the sear guide 70 pivots downward about a disconnect pivot 86, clearing the roller bearing 76, and allowing the hammer 62 to be driven against firing pin assemblies 88, 90, each of which includes a firing pin which is spring loaded away from the breach until struck by the hammer 62, at which time a struck firing pin will be driven forward into a cartridge in the breach 24. In FIG. 6 the tips of the firing pins 100, 102 are shown extending out of the firing spring assemblies 88, 90 for clarity. However, the springs (not shown) within the firing spring assemblies 88, 90 would normally prevent the firing pin tips 100, 102 from extending, as they are strong enough to hold the hammer 62 somewhat back from the firing spring assemblies 88, 90.

While it is possible to have a single forward movement of the hammer 62 drive the firing pins in each of the firing pin assemblies 88, 90 into the cartridges 28, 30, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the hammer 62 has a cylindrical bore formed therein and a firing pin selector, in the shape of a cylinder is positioned within the cylindrical bore. The firing pin selector of the preferred embodiment of the invention (not shown) includes four faces, two of which have a flat portion in juxtaposition with the upper firing pin assembly 88, and two of which have a flat portion in juxtaposition with the lower firing pin assembly 90. On each of the faces of the firing pin selector, there is also a convex portion which prevents the firing pin selector from contacting the firing pin assembly 88 or 90 which is not to be struck. Firing pin indexes 92 on the the firing pin selector cause the firing pin selector to rotate a quarter of a turn when they engage a yoke (not shown) each time the hammer 62 is brought back to fire the pistol 10. Thus, on each successive pull of the trigger 16, the firing pin in either the top firing pin assembly 88 or the firing pin in the bottom firing pin assembly 90, will be struck, but both will not be struck at the same time.

The use of the so-called roller bearing trigger system (so named because of the use of multiple roller bearings 74, 76) causes the trigger action to be extremely smooth.

Further features found in the preferred embodiment of the invention, which are designed to provide both strength and light weight to the pistol 10, are that the grip 32 is preferably made of a lightweight material, such as aluminum or titanium, while the barrels 20, 22 are preferably made of 416 stainless steel, as are the hammer 62 and other internal components. Titanium or aluminum alloy are preferably used to make the frame, with aluminum alloy being lighter and titanium being stronger without adding undue weight to the pistol 10.

A safety feature of the pistol 10 is that there is a space between the rear and the firing pin assemblies 88, 90 which provides a positive visual indication of whether the chamber is loaded as the rear of the cartridges are visually exposed.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, many shooters consider the shape and size of the original and subsequent “1911” platform to be ergonomically preferred (so-called “1911 ergonomics”). Thus, the grip in the preferred embodiment of the invention angles back (from the vertical) by 17 degrees, the distance from the rear of the grip 32 (called the “back strap”) to the front of the trigger 18, and the size and shape of the trigger 18 are in accordance with such 1911 ergonomics.

Yet, another feature of the preferred embodiment is that it uses progressively ported barrels which include a series of specifically designed gas venting holes 96, 98 in the barrels 20, 22. The purpose of the venting holes 96, 98 is that when the pistol 10 is discharged pressurized gases are diverted in specific directions and angles to reduce both recoil and muzzle climb.

As set forth above, the pistol 10 of the preferred embodiment includes a pivoting retaining member 14 which is used to attach the receiver 12 to the pistol 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pivoting retaining member 14, which may be in the form of a movable pin, or other suitable form allows the pistol to utilize interchangeable receivers 12, whereby the superposed double barrel receiver 12 is interchangeable to multiple calibers utilizing the same frame. By way of example, receivers including barrels for available calibers could include .22 caliber, 22 mag, 22 hornet, 5.7×28 mm, .25 mm, .380, 9 mm, 10 mm, .40 S&W, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .410, 45 ACP, 45 Long Colt, 44 Magnum, 50 S&W Magnum, or such other calibers as may be available or desired without departing from the present invention.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and illustrated, those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous variations of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit of scope of the invention described and claimed. By way of one example, while a two barrel over/under configuration has been described, it is possible for there to be more than two barrels or for the configuration to be other than an over/under configuration. Thus, it would be within the scope of the invention to have a side-by-side configuration, a dual side-by-side configuration with one pair of barrels being in an over/under relationship with a second pair of barrels, or even a three barrel configuration in which the axes of the three barrels are parallel, but not necessarily in-line, i.e., in which they have a triangular juxtaposition. 

1-15. (canceled)
 16. A pistol comprising: a pistol frame; a double-barrel receiver movably coupled to the pistol frame; a hammer assembly enclosed within the pistol frame, the hammer assembly configured to sequentially strike a first ammunition cartridge positioned in a first barrel of the double-barrel receiver and a second ammunition cartridge positioned in the second barrel of the double-barrel receiver; a trigger coupled to the hammer assembly, the trigger operable to actuate sequential striking of the first and second ammunition cartridges by the hammer assembly; a handle extending from the pistol frame, the handle having an internal storage compartment and a movable door configured to provide access to the internal storage compartment; and a stripper clip positioned in the internal storage compartment, the stripper clip configured to hold a first spare ammunition cartridge and a second spare ammunition cartridge in a juxtaposition corresponding to the double-barrel receiver.
 17. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the first barrel and second barrel of the double-barrel receiver are in a superimposed configuration.
 18. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the double-barrel receiver is rotatably coupled to the pistol frame.
 19. The pistol of claim 18, wherein the double-barrel receiver is rotatably coupled to the pistol frame via a movable pin.
 20. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the double-barrel receiver is removably coupled to the pistol frame.
 21. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the double-barrel receiver is rotatably coupled to the pistol frame.
 22. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the double-barrel receiver is configured to receive a 45 ACP ammunition cartridge.
 23. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the stripper clip includes a tab extending therefrom.
 24. The pistol of claim 23, wherein the internal storage compartment is configured such that the tab extending from the stripper clip is bendably moved into the internal storage compartment by moving the movable door from an open position to a closed position.
 25. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the double-barrel receiver is composed of stainless steel.
 26. The pistol of claim 25, wherein the pistol frame is composed of at least one of aluminum and titanium.
 27. The pistol of claim 16, wherein the hammer assembly is composed of stainless steel.
 28. The pistol of claim 16, wherein a first plurality of exterior surfaces of the pistol frame, the double-barrel receiver, and the handle have a second plurality of co-planar surfaces such that the pistol has a smoothly joined exterior.
 29. A method of loading a pistol, the method comprising: rotating a double-barrel receiver movably coupled to a pistol frame with respect to the pistol frame to a loading position, the loading position providing access to a loading end of a first barrel and a second barrel of the double-barrel receiver; opening a movable door positioned on a handle of the pistol to provide access to an internal storage compartment in the handle of the pistol, the handle extending from the pistol frame, the internal storage compartment configured to hold a stripper clip therein, the stripper clip configured to hold a first spare ammunition cartridge and a second spare ammunition cartridge in a juxtaposition corresponding to a position of a first barrel and a second barrel of the double-barrel receiver; removing the stripper clip and the first spare ammunition cartridge and the second spare ammunition cartridges positioned therein from the internal storage compartment; and loading, simultaneously, the first spare ammunition cartridge and the second spare ammunition cartridge into the first barrel and the second barrel of the double-barrel receiver of the pistol via the stripper clip.
 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the double-barrel receiver is an over under configuration.
 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the double-barrel receiver is configured to receive a 45 ACP ammunition cartridge.
 32. The method of claim 29, wherein the double-barrel receiver is removably coupled to the pistol frame.
 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the stripper clip includes a tab extending therefrom.
 34. The method of claim 29, wherein a first plurality of exterior surfaces of the pistol frame, the double-barrel receiver, and the handle have a second plurality of co-planar surfaces such that the pistol has a smoothly joined exterior.
 35. A clip for holding ammunition cartridges, the clip comprising: a base configured to hold two or less ammunition cartridges, the base configured to maintain the two ammunition cartridges in a co-parallel juxtaposition with respect to one another; and a tab extending from the base.
 36. The clip of claim 35, wherein the tab is bendable.
 37. The clip of claim 35, wherein the clip is composed of a resilient material.
 38. The clip of claim 35, further comprising a pistol, the clip positioned in an internal storage compartment in a handle of the pistol, the internal storage compartment accessible via a movable door in the handle of the pistol.
 39. A pistol comprising: a pistol frame; a double-barrel receiver movably coupled to the pistol frame; a hammer assembly enclosed within the pistol frame, the hammer assembly configured to sequentially strike a first ammunition cartridge positioned in a first barrel of the double-barrel receiver and a second ammunition cartridge positioned in the second barrel of the double-barrel receiver; a handle extending from the pistol frame; and a trigger coupled to the hammer assembly, the trigger operable in a double action mode whereby successive trigger pulls actuate sequential striking of the first and second ammunition cartridges by the hammer assembly in the absence of any intervening actions between the successive trigger pulls. 